Two Simple, Easy Ways To Save On Your Electric Bill And Help Save The Planet

Learn about and use Compact florescent lighting. This is good sense and a relatively easy conservation method.

There are even a new type of such bulbs mentioned in the current issue of Popular Science magazine that have a softer yellow glow more like incandescent bulbs instead of the harsh blue light of common CF bulbs, for about $4.00 - one of the main objections of most people to using CF bulbs.

There is another very simple means of conservation of electricity that is also relatively painless. Install surge strips on all TV, stereo, and computer equipment and turn the surge strip off after shutting down these devices.

All such devices nowadays go into a "stand by" mode so that they come back up quickly when a person pushes the "on" button. They never truly shut off when people think they've been turned off - and so still draw power whether in use or not. This is why modern TV's no longer need to "warm up" before displaying a picture when you turn them on - they never really turn off.

The same is true of any device using those small black transformers to convert wall outlet AC power into low voltage DC power. As long as they are plugged into the wall they use the same amount of power regardless of whether or not the device they operate is in use.

Putting a surge strip between such devices and the wall outlet allows you to truly disconnect them from the electrical supply.

Regards,

Dan Stafford
Publisher
The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal
http://www.whizzyrds.com/Windblog.html

Dead In The Water - airs June 19th at 9:30pm local time on The Sundance Channel:

This documentary shows the long and clearly devastating history of the privatization of public waters systems around the world at the urgings of large corporations and the IMF.

Obviously and clearly a gross failure to the people of the affected regions, many countries following down this dead end trail have suffered from massive disease outbreaks as those too poor to pay for water are able to find it only in questionable sources or die of thirst. In many cases, riots and massive public uprisings result after many deaths, and the water companies are booted out in abject failure, leaving the water supplies again under municipal control.

What's not discussed here is the stealth privatization of municipal water supplies happening in various areas of the US, which has not had first hand experience with this disaster-in-waiting with some notable exceptions in California. Needless to say, those exceptions are quite enlightening, but not of the burden people will bear, literally, having to carry water home in plastic jugs right here in the USA regardless of income level.

Dead In The Water features many common-sense arguments, and direct interviews with people "served" by first public, then private water systems. You'd love to think this can't happen in first world countries, but guess what...it STARTED with a first world country of major proportions. Beyond that, there are decades of historic examples clearly exposed here.

In what I think is the most eloquently simple paraphrase of the best line in this movie, "Markets are driven to serve those with money, not those without. It's a failure of reason and logic to expect market driven systems to honestly and effectively serve the disenfranchised and destitute at the expense of their bottom line, which the obvious reason why services that peoples very lives depend on are best left in the public sector." ( In my mind, this also speaks volumes as to what is the missing chapter in classic Libertarian theory, which utterly fails to account for people in this position. Heads up, you Libertarian think-tankers, get on it if you want to get relevant. This issue gives a glaring example of what market forces will do to life-essential services. )

Watch Dead In The Water June 19th at 9:30pm local time on The Sundance Channel to learn the birthplace of the Water Barons - and what water privatization could do to, uhhhm, I mean FOR you and your family!

This film is an essential education for anyone who requires daily water to survive or thrive.





Look for my review of "Five Disasters Waiting To Happen" next week to appear at The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy and Hydrogen Journal, and at The First Church of Healing The Earth.

Meanwhile, take a good solid look at this must-see presentation of what we all need to work together on at 9:30pm June 19th on The Sundance Channel.

All the best,

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair, Progressive Democrats of Illinois
http://www.illinoisprogressives.org

Owner and Publisher
The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy and Hydrogen Journal

Founder
The First Church of Healing The Earth

Trouble in Hawaiian Islands Marine Monument on World Ocean Day

By Sunny Lewis HONOLULU, Hawaii, June 8, 2007 (ENS) -

Out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, environmentalists say all is not well in America's first national marine monument on World Ocean Day, observed each year on June 8. They are outraged at the recent decision of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, to allow bio-prospecting in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

Conservationists and native Hawaiians are attending the BLNR meeting today in Honolulu to demand a moratorium on all research permits in this far-flung island chain that stretches for 1,400 square miles north and west of the main Hawaiian islands.

"The BLNR's decision is unacceptable," said Vicky Holt-Takamine, president of the 'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition and a member of the Congressional commission developing a bio-prospecting policy for the state. Bio-prospecting is the theft of natural resources from native peoples. It should not happen in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or anywhere in Hawaii," she said.

The conservationists argue that the BLNR should not grant rights to bio-prospectors when a law on the issue is being drafted. On the BLNR agenda today are several permits for a University of Hawaii research mission through the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. These researchers are seeking to collect thousands of samples of living organisms with the possibility of patenting the biological material they find.

The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology received $2.3 million in federal funding for this research project last summer, but the permit applications were made public only last week.

The ship for this research mission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hi'ialakai, is requesting permission to dump human waste in the monument waters. According to the permit application, the ship's waste system is broken and unable to separate grey water from black water, so the institute says it must dump both types of waste into the ocean on a daily basis. But dumping waste is prohibited in both the state and federal waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

"This is not the way to treat a fragile and unique marine environment," said Marti Townsend of KAHEA: The awaiian-Environmental Alliance. "Dumping waste water onto ancient, pristine coral reefs is inexcusable, especially when it is the federal government doing...

Full Story: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2007/2007-06-08-04.asp

The Refugees Of The Blue Planet - airs June 12th @ 9:30pm on The Sundance Channel:

The Refugees Of The Blue Planet is a beautifully shot environmental documentary that lays bare the fate that has already befallen tens of millions of people around the globe, and stands poised to overwhelm hundreds of millions of people as global warming and environmental degradation takes off with a vengeance.

This film does a wonderful job of laying bare the results of sacrificing environment and community for the sake of convenience and profit, without the usual requests for funding and projection of the producers' favored solutions that accompany so many documentary films focused on specific issues. In the end, the reader is left with a clear understanding of the nature of the beast, yet left to draw their own conclusions as to what actions to take - or not take, as they might believe best.

Shot on location around the globe, The Refugees Of The Blue Planet shows the direct human results of environmental catastrophes and exploitation in no uncertain terms. Whether the tragedies are engendered by run-amok weather or rampant environmental degradation as a result of industrial activities, the point is clearly driven home.

In some cases, the victims or refugees are who you would expect, but in many cases they are not. The viewer is left without the artificial sense of insulation from potential disaster that our disconnected-from-nature industrialized society is so good at fostering. There is a clear impression that anyone could be the next Refugees Of The Blue Planet.

The Refugees Of The Blue Planet is the lead of a series of environmental documentaries scheduled to air on The Sundance Channel this June and July. The next feature will be titled "Dead In The Water" and will air on June 19th at 9:30pm. This will be followed by "Five Disasters Waiting To Happen" at 9:30pm on July 10th.

Look for my review of "Dead In The Water" to be published early next week, followed by a review of "Five Disasters Waiting To Happen" the following week to appear at The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy and Hydrogen Journal, and at The First Church of Healing The Earth.

Meanwhile, take a good solid look at this must-see presentation of what we all need to work together on at 9:30pm June 12th on The Sundance Channel.

All the best,

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair, Progressive Democrats of Illinois
http://www.illinoisprogressives.org

Owner and Publisher
The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy and Hydrogen Journal

Founder
The First Church of Healing The Earth

Dear Green Festival Attendee, On behalf of Co-op America, I would like to thank you for attending our first Green Festival in Chicago! As co-producers of the Green Festival, Co-op America is happy to announce that the event attracted over 31,000 people, proving just how much the green movement is growing! Co-op America has been helping to grow the green movement for over 20 years by harnessing economic power -- the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace -- to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. At Co-op America’s booth, we asked our visitors to step inside our photo studio and tell us their favorite green thing to do. Their answers are captivating and fun—affirming what people are already doing to go green and providing inspiration for all of us. Take a moment to check out the photos, or to look up your own. Co-op America’s resources are excellent tools for carrying the spirit of Green Festival with you throughout the year. Here are a few of my favorites: • The National Green Pages™: Discover thousands of green businesses across the country, screened by Co-op America. • Responsible Shopper: Learn about the social and environmental impact of major corporations, and take action for corporate responsibility. • Climate Action Campaign: Join us in working with individuals, shareholders, and communities to pressure major polluters to curb climate change. We also have regular e-mail updates that provide tips and actions to help build the green economy. I'm looking forward to continuing the good work we started together at Green Festival! In cooperation, Alisa Gravitz Executive Director Co-op America

If you’re not already a member of Co-op America, JOIN TODAY. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE GREEN THING TO DO? Isabel Morales-Gaskin told us her favorite green thing to do is "Go to the Green Festival."

JOIN NOW | DONATE TODAY | SEND THIS TO A FRIEND

Co-op America, 1612 K St NW Suite 600, Washington DC 20006 - (800) 58 GREEN - www.coopamerica.org

(Yep, I was there. - Dan)

	A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at: www.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm May 23, 2007 News and Events Sixteen Cities and Five Banks Join Efficiency Effort for Buildings EPA Proposes Criteria for Clean Vehicles Allowed in HOV Lanes General Motors Achieves a Record Distance in a Fuel Cell Vehicle New Hydrogen Fueling Stations Operating in California and Illinois Racers Fall Short of Mileage Record at Shell Eco-marathons Energy Connections EIA: World Energy Use to Grow 57 Percent by 2030
	News and Events Sixteen Cities and Five Banks Join Efficiency Effort for Buildings Sixteen of the world's largest cities—including Chicago, Houston, and New York—have joined in a global effort to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings. The Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, a project of the Clinton Climate Initiative, will draw on $5 billion in financing to be provided in equal amounts by five banks: ABN AMRO, Citi, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and UBS. The banks will finance cities and private building owners to undertake energy efficiency retrofits. Four energy service companies—Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Siemens, and Trane—will conduct energy audits, perform building retrofits, and guarantee the energy savings of the retrofit projects. The companies will be assisted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the U.S. Green Building Council. See the ASHRAE press release. The municipal and private building owners will then pay off the loans, including interest, using the money saved by the energy retrofits. As a result, the projects create no net costs for the building owners while reducing their energy use by 20 to 50 percent. According to the Clinton Foundation, the available funding should double the global market for energy retrofits in buildings. The Clinton Foundation is also working with Microsoft Corporation to develop online tools to help cities monitor their greenhouse gas emissions. See the Clinton Foundation press releases on the retrofit program and the Microsoft project. Such energy-saving agreements are often referred to as "energy saving performance contracts," and are widely used by companies and institutions, as well as all levels of U.S. government. Several recent examples are provided by Honeywell Building Solutions, an energy service company. In the past two months, the company has signed such contracts with the City of Perris, California; the housing authority in Columbia, Tennessee; Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania; and the City of Quincy, Massachusetts. The Edinboro University project is a $9.7 million effort that will yield $1.3 million per year in energy savings. The Quincy project is a $32.8 million effort that will yield $1 million per year in energy savings, while an included water-metering project will add another $1.5 million in new revenue for the city. That contract is the first in Massachusetts since the state passed a law allowing municipalities to enter into long-term energy saving performance contracts. See the recent press releases from Honeywell Building Solutions. EPA Proposes Criteria for Clean Vehicles Allowed in HOV Lanes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed criteria last week for hybrid and alternative-fueled vehicles that states might allow to travel in the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, even when the driver is alone in the vehicle. The 2005 transportation act authorized such occupancy exemptions for HOV lanes to encourage the purchase and use of clean vehicles. The act also required EPA to set the criteria for such clean vehicles. According to DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), some type of HOV exemption is currently offered in eight states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Utah, and Virginia—and the District of Columbia. See the AFDC Web site. The EPA is proposing to require the vehicles to be either a dedicated alternative fuel vehicle or a high-efficiency hybrid vehicle. Hybrids must achieve either a 50 percent or better improvement in fuel economy during city driving, compared to a similar gasoline-only vehicle, or a 25 percent or better improvement in average fuel economy (using the EPA's combined city and highway estimates). The "dedicated" requirement for alternative fuel vehicles excludes flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on either gasoline or a blend containing 85 percent ethanol, because many flex-fuel vehicle owners fill their tanks with gasoline. The EPA also requires the vehicle to meet stringent air quality criteria (either EPA Tier 2, Bin 5 or California LEV II) and to weigh less than 8,500 pounds. States will be able to set tougher criteria but not looser ones. The EPA will accept comments on the proposal for 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register, which as of Tuesday had not yet occurred. See the EPA press release and the proposed ruling. General Motors Achieves a Record Distance in a Fuel Cell Vehicle General Motors Corporation (GM) drove a fuel cell vehicle 300 miles on public roads last week, claiming a real-world distance record for traveling on a single tank of hydrogen. The Chevy Sequel drove across New York State, beginning its drive at GM's Fuel Cell Activity Center in Honeoye Falls, just south of Rochester, and finishing in Tarrytown, which is north of New York City. According to GM, the Sequel is the first vehicle in the world to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system with advanced technologies such as steer- and brake-by-wire controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion batteries, and a lightweight aluminum structure. See the GM press release. New Hydrogen Fueling Stations Operating in California and Illinois The ability to fill the tanks of fuel cell vehicles increased last week, when Southern California Edison and Chevron Technology Ventures LLC dedicated a new hydrogen fueling station at the utility's headquarters in Rosemead, California. The fueling station, which was partially funded by DOE, employs an electrolyzer to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing 40 kilograms of hydrogen per day with 60 kilograms of hydrogen storage. The hydrogen will fuel a fleet of up to nine Hyundai fuel cell cars. See the press release from Edison International. This new hydrogen fuel pump in Des Plaines, Illinois, is accessible to the public. Credit: Gas Technology Institute A hydrogen fueling station also opened at the Gas Technology Institute in Des Plaines, Illinois, in April. The state's first hydrogen station will produce hydrogen from natural gas or ethanol or through the electrolysis of water. It will be publicly available with credit-card access. According to a database compiled by the National Hydrogen Association (NHA), there are now 45 hydrogen fueling stations operating in the United States. See the GTI press release and the NHA database. Hydrogen fueling stations could be a thing of the past if a new process developed at Purdue University proves successful. Purdue engineers have created an alloy of aluminum and gallium that spontaneously generates hydrogen when added to water. The gallium prevents the aluminum from forming an oxide coating, which normally blocks aluminum's reaction with water. The reaction converts the aluminum to aluminum oxide but leaves the gallium untouched. The trick to making this feasible, of course, would be to recycle the gallium while finding an inexpensive and energy-efficient means of converting the aluminum oxide back to aluminum. See the Purdue press release. Racers Fall Short of Mileage Record at Shell Eco-marathons The team from St. Joseph La Joliverie in France has again won the European Shell Eco-marathon with a fuel economy of 7,152 miles per gallon. Credit: Shell A record fuel economy set in 2003 continues to stand, as the best competitors in the United States and Europe have fallen short. At the 2007 European Shell Eco-marathon—held in Nogaro, France, from May 11th to the 13th—the winning team from St. Joseph La Joliverie in France traveled 3,039 kilometers on a liter of fuel, the equivalent of 7,152 miles per gallon. That fell far short of the record 10,705 miles per gallon set by a team from the same school back in 2003. This year's event also featured solar cars and hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, with the best hydrogen car achieving the equivalent of 6,583 miles per gallon of gasoline. Although fuel cell vehicles fell short of internal combustion engines during steady running on a track, the sole fuel cell entry in a new urban competition far outshone its gasoline-fueled competitors. Back in 2003, Shell introduced the "UrbanConcept" category, which includes vehicles with more practical designs that could potentially be used on actual urban streets. This year, for the first time, Shell added mandatory pit stops as a way of simulating the stop-and-go traffic of urban driving. Even under such constraints, a fuel cell vehicle achieved the equivalent of 1,311 miles per gallon of gasoline, while the best gasoline-fueled entry achieved 720 miles per gallon. See the European Shell Eco-marathon Web site. While the European event featured more than 250 teams from 20 countries, the first Shell Eco-marathon Americas drew only 17 teams from the United States and Canada. The event, held in Fontana, California, on April 13th and 14th, was won by a team from California Polytechnic State University, which achieved 1,902.7 miles per gallon in the race, far short of its European rivals. Shell's final event of the year, the Shell Eco-marathon UK, will be held on July 4th and 5th in Corby, England. See the Shell press release and Eco-marathon Web site.
	Energy Connections EIA: World Energy Use to Grow 57 Percent by 2030 Less than a quarter century from now, the world will be consuming 57 percent more energy than it does today, if the latest projections from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) prove correct. The EIA's International Energy Outlook 2007, released on Monday, projects a growing thirst for energy in developing countries, particularly in Asia. The report sees coal as the fastest-growing energy source, while petroleum consumption increases by more than 30 percent. Meanwhile, liquid fuels produced from biomass, coal, and natural gas are expected to provide 9 percent of the world's liquid fuels supply by 2030. Overall, renewable energy barely increases its share of the world's energy supply over the next 23 years, growing from today's 7 percent share to about 8 percent in 2030. The EIA's reference scenario does not include greenhouse gas constraints, and as a result, global greenhouse gas emissions increase nearly 60 percent by 2030. The report notes that developing countries produced more greenhouse gas emissions than the industrialized countries in 2004, and are expected to widen the gap in the future. By 2030, the EIA expects today's developing countries to generate 57 percent more greenhouse gases than today's industrialized countries. See the EIA press release and the full report. The world's future energy needs seem particularly daunting given the current constraints on gasoline supplies, which are driving up prices in the United States. According to the American Automobile Association's "Fuel Gauge Report," the average price for unleaded gasoline in the United States has been setting new records most every day for the past couple weeks. Last week's edition of the EIA's This Week in Petroleum specifically addresses the record-high prices and notes that gasoline inventories are finally starting to increase. See the Fuel Gauge Report and the May 16th edition of This Week in Petroleum.
	This newsletter is funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the EERE Web site. You can subscribe to the EERE Network News using our simple online form

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Great Lakes Daily News: 18 May 2007
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and The
Environment Report.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news


Michigan DNR aims to halt spread of fish virus
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A deadly fish virus has spread into one of Michigan's inland lakes, prompting the Department of Natural Resources to propose new rules for boaters and anglers. Source: The Detroit News (5/18)


Wisconsin board OKs emergency fishing limits
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Wisconsin natural resource management officials have approved rules on bait transfer and disinfection for state lakes infected with VHS. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/18)


$20 million would clean up Lake St. Clair
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Lake St. Clair would get $20 million in funds to battle pollution under the version of the Water Resources Development Act just passed by the U.S. Senate, but the bill must still be reconciled wtih the House version. Source: The Macomb Daily (5/18)


Signing of Greenway Plan welcomes 'a wonderful new beginning'
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The newly approved Niagara River Greenway Plan means dedicated funding for a connected system of trails, parks and conservation areas along a 35- mile stretch of the Niagara River, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Source: The Buffalo News (5/18)


COMMENTARY: Preserve land assets to help economy
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It's time for policymakers to begin thinking creatively about ways to preserve and invest in Michigan's assets in ways that will boost the state's economy. Source: The Detroit News (5/18)


Weeds to be sprayed
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Phragmites, an invasive plant infesting the Lake St. Clair shoreline will be targeted by pesticide applications intended to limit the plant's spread. Source: The Macomb Daily (5/18)


Reclamation project giving marsh new life
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Wetlands and shallow lakes that once covered hundreds of acres in Wisconsin's Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area are now mud flats - a move state biologists took to kill rough fish and cattails that have overrun the area. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/18)


Mitten crab planning an attack on St. Lawrence
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The Chinese mitten crab, an invasive species that has damaged other aquatic ecosystems, could attack the St. Lawrence River next. Source: Cornwall Standard Freeholder (5/17)


New trees slowly come to life in aftermath of forest fires
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After forest fires across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan,ecologists say that fire is part of forest regeneration and new growth is already taking root. Source: The Ashland Daily Press (5/17)


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ENN: Environmental refugees, Toyota hybrids, whales and sonar, and more

Thursday, May 17, 2007
News of Note In the eight years since the West Nile Virus made its first appearance in the United States populations of once common birds, like robins and crows, have dropped dramatically. More here. Today's News U.N. Professor Says Climate Change Is Creating New Refugees Who Deserve U.N. Protection Increasing global temperatures and land degradation are forcing more people to migrate, creating a wave of environmental refugees who need U.N. protection, a professor at the United Nations University said. Toyota Banking on Hybrids Despite Expected Arrival of Ecological Rivals Toyota's commitment to hybrid automobiles was on full display Thursday when it unveiled its most expensive gasoline-electric vehicle yet -- the 15 million yen ($124,000) luxury sedan Lexus LS. Environmental Groups Sue U.S. Navy Over Sonar Exercises off Hawaii Five environmental groups is suing the Navy over sonar exercises off the coast of Hawaii that they say harm whales. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit in federal court in Honolulu on Wednesday, citing studies saying Navy sonar can "kill, injure, or significantly alter the behavior of whales and dolphins." India Must Resist China Pressure on Tiger Ban, WWF Says India must not support a Chinese campaign to lift a ban on trading tiger parts as any relaxation could wipe out the endangered cats, conservation group WWF-India said on Wednesday. China Needs Responsible Timber Choice, Greenpeace Says Greenpeace called on China's large DIY retailers on Thursday to adopt "responsible" timber-sourcing policies to allow the country's growing ranks of home renovators to buy legally imported wood. Poor Indian Fishermen Threaten To Kill Rare Sharks Fishermen along India's western coast are threatening to undo conservation efforts and kill hundreds of endangered whale sharks unless the government gives fuel subsidies promised to them three years ago. >>>More articles at ENN.com Member Press Releases The Road to Recovery : 100 Success Stories for Endangered Species Day 2007 By: the Center for Biological Diversity For the second year in a row, the U.S. Senate declared an "Endangered Species Day" on May 18, 2007, to "encourage the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide." West Nile Virus Threatens Backyard Birds By: Wildlife Trust Scientists at the Consortium for Conservation Medicine (CCM), based at Wildlife Trust, New York, and the Smithsonian Institution's Migratory Bird Center report in an article appearing today in Nature that many species of birds, including backyard favorites such as tufted titmice and chickadees, are suffering serious declines from West Nile virus. Official Mexican Norm 029 on Shark and Ray Fishing is a Watershed for the Conservation of Marine Organisms By: International Fund for Animal Welfare When Official Mexican Norm (known as NOM in Spanish) 029 on shark and ray fishing goes into effect today, it will make it possible to regulate one of the fisheries with the greatest impact on endangered marine species such as sea turtles, whales and sea lions. The populations of many shark species are decreasing, making it imperative to regulate their capture in order to stop the depletion of these populations, according to the following environmentalist organizations: Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, COMARINO (Conservation of Marine Mammals of Mexico), Defenders of Wildlife México, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace México. Zoos Help Save Threatened Rainforest By: World Land Trust The Annual Conference and AGM of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) is the launchpad for a ground breaking partnership that will save some of the most endangered rainforest in the World. Lawsuit to Be Filed to Protect Montana Fluvial Arctic Grayling By: Center for Biological Diversity The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, Dr. Pat Munday and former Montana fishing guide George Wuerthner officially notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service May 15th that they will sue over an April 24, 2007 decision that the Montana fluvial arctic grayling no longer warrants protection as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Rather than concluding Montana grayling are recovered and secure, the agency instead decided that extinction of the Montana population, which is the last in the lower 48 states, is insignificant. Rehabilitated Manatee - A Success Story By: Wildlife Trust Wildlife Trust scientists and their colleagues in the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) are proud to announce that Mo, the much-loved manatee, having proven his ability to stay healthy and out of trouble, is no longer in need of monitoring. Wildlife Trust scientist, Lucy Keith removed Mo's tracking tags while he fed on a grassflat near the TECO power plant in Tampa Bay, thus ending a lengthy and enlightening relationship with the manatee that couldn't seem to find his way home. Earth Report 'Blast' Airing on BBC World May 19, 2007 By: the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development BBC World presents "Blast," an Earth Report documentary that chronicles the ongoing battle between blast fishers in the Philippines and the brave individuals risking their lives to stop them. Hawaiian Monk Seals Monitored for Infectious Diseases By: Wildlife Trust Dr. Alonso Aguirre, Vice President of Conservation Medicine at Wildlife Trust, and a team of researchers report in an article published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases that infectious diseases could pose a serious threat to the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world and their numbers have declined in recent years. In addition to the threat posed by starvation, predation by sharks, and net entanglement, monk seals may be affected by biotoxins and infectious diseases. Bush Touts Proposal for New Federal Alternative-Fuel Standards That Would Weaken Existing Law By: the Center for Biological Diversity In a Rose Garden appearance Monday, President Bush cynically portrayed his "20-in-10" alternative-fuel standard as improving current federal fuel-economy standards. In fact, the proposal is considerably weaker than current targets signed into law in 1992 by the first Bush president. Rainforest Alliance to Laud Business Leaders for Environmental and Social Responsibility at Organization's 20th Anniversary Gala By: the Rainforest Alliance The Rainforest Alliance, a nonprofit international conservation organization, is pleased to announce the 2007 co-chairs and honorees that will be recognized at our 20th anniversary gala on May 16 in New York City. Receiving awards are companies and individuals that have significantly advanced the goals set forth by the Rainforest Alliance and have integrated environmental and social sustainability into their work. Editor's Note : 'Network News' features press releases submitted directly by organizations in ENN's member network. This content is not specifically endorsed or supported by ENN and is not subject to ENN's editorial process.
ENN Home | Contact ENN | Network News | ENN Radio | Submit News
ENN is a Registered Trademark of the Environmental News Network, Inc. Copyright © 2006 Environmental News Network, Inc. Contact ENN

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Great Lakes Daily News: 17 May 2007
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and The
Environment Report.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news



Impact of VHS on small lakes unknown
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Of all the things fisheries personnel know about viral hemorrhagic septicemia, it's the unknown that bugs them the most. Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette (5/17)


Wisconsin DNR to expand emergency rules
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is expected to broaden emergency restrictions for anglers and boaters today to include the Lake Winnebago system after the discovery last week of a deadly fish virus. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/17)


Committee seeks input on water deal
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The Great Lakes Binational Executive Committee is seeking comments on its most recent review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Source: The Kingston Whig-Standard (5/17)


Grant to help create Bratenahl preserve
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Twelve undeveloped acres that border a Lake Erie tributary and are a natural habitat for many plants and animals will be preserved forever thanks in part to a $1 million federal grant. Source: The Plain Dealer (5/17)


COMMENTARY: Let's use Florida as a bad example
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While we've created some ecological messes in Michigan, we can take comfort that at least we're not in Florida, where where short-sighted and corrupt political leaders turned blind eyes to impending threats for decades. Source: Detroit Free Press (5/17)


Algae used to monitor climate change
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Microscopic in size, algae goes largely unnoticed in the Great Lakes. But researchers are using them as part of an early warning system of the Great Lakes' health. Source: Pierce County Herald (5/16)


Lamprey control planned
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will treat the Shiawassee River and the Carroll Creek in eastern Michigan this week for sea lamprey, a parasite that can ravage fish in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Source: Midland Daily News (5/16)


EDITORIAL: Action needed on ballast water issue
----------------------------------------
Standing on the sidelines will only ensure the Great Lakes' population of 183 invasive species grows and the health of the Great Lakes deteriorates. Source: Huron Daily Tribune (5/16)


UW power plant's coal dust is polluting lake, DNR warns
----------------------------------------
A power plant operated by University of Wisconsin-Madison is allowing coal dust into the environment, polluting one of the city's prized lakes, state regulators say. Source: Janesville Gazette (5/16)


EDITORIAL: Unnatural boundaries
----------------------------------------
It's time to move forward on water quality by creating a new partnership that would approach issues on the basis of the entire Milwaukee River watershed. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/12)


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Gore Book Excerpt: "The Assault on Reason"

Gore Book Excerpt: "The Assault on Reason"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051707R.shtml
Al Gore writes in an excerpt from his book "The Assault on Reason": "American democracy is now in danger - not from any one set of ideas, but from unprecedented changes in the environment within which ideas either live and spread, or wither and die. I do not mean the physical environment; I mean what is called the public sphere, or the marketplace of ideas."

US Contests G8 Climate Communique
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/051707EA.shtml
Attempts to step up international action on climate change among the Group of Eight industrialized nations are being strongly contested by the US. A draft of the proposed communique from the G8's summit in Germany in June, seen by the Financial Times, shows the US is trying to weaken some of the starkest language on climate change.

Scientists Foresee Extinction Domino Effect
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/051707EC.shtml
Climate change is accelerating species extinctions and unraveling the intricate web of life, experts fear. Birds, animals, insects and even plants are on the move around the Earth, trying to flee new and increasingly inhospitable local weather conditions.

Labor Unions and Conservation Groups Team Up in Bid to Influence Farm Policy
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/051707LA.shtml
The AFL-CIO and other major labor unions for the first time are aiming to influence farm policy by partnering with conservation groups that seek greater funding for programs benefiting US hunters and fishers.



Brita Belli | Natural Baby, Poisonous World
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/051707WA.shtml
"While raising a child more naturally does involve buying more organic and nontoxic products, it's also about fostering the kind of instinctive bond that's so easily lost in our high-stress, pre-packaged world," writes Brita Belli.

Inspired by Ancient Amazonians, a New Plan for the Environment
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/051707EB.shtml
A new bill in the US Senate will advocate adoption of an "agrichar" method that could lessen our dependence on fossil fuel and help avert global warming.

From the David Suzuki Foundation:

CLIMATE CLIPS: CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS, POLITICS & SCIENCE
May 17, 2007

Federal government sticks to environmental plan
CanWest News Service

Prime Minister Harper ignored allegations that the federal government is sabotaging global negotiations on a post-Kyoto climate change agreement by misleading the international community about the nature of its own plan to crack down on pollution from large industries.
Continue reading...

Related article:
Canadian clean air agenda looks more like a sketch than a plan



United Nations climate chief says time is short to fnd 2012 pact
Reuters

The world has a "closing window of opportunity" to agree a pact to fight global warming beyond 2012, the UN's top climate change official said.
Continue reading...



World mayors hold climate summit in New York City
The Guardian

City leaders from around the world declared at an environmental summit Tuesday that they can no longer wait for national governments to reverse global warming and instead must find solutions on their own.
Continue reading...

Related article:
Toronto among cities to go green



Scientists plead for protection of forests
The Globe and Mail

Canada will be urged today by more than 1,500 scientists from more than 50 countries to strengthen protection of the increasingly threatened boreal forest, a key component in the planet's battle with climate change.
Continue reading...



Moncton scientist designing wind map for Nova Scotia
CBC News

A researcher at the Université de Moncton has been hired by the Nova Scotia government to draw up a wind map of the province.
Continue reading...



BC campaign urges power users to 'turn it off'
The Globe and Mail

Vancouver's skyline will look a lot different tonight, as the Lion's Gate Bridge, Canada Place, Science World and Grouse Mountain turn off their lights as part of a one-day effort to conserve energy in British Columbia.
Continue reading...

Related article:
BC government wants cab companies to go green



IBM shifts $1B in effort to make corporate data centers more energy efficient
Canadian Press

In a sign that environmental sensibilities are informing business strategies, IBM Corp. is spending $1 billion to spread technologies and services that could make corporate computing centers more energy efficient.
Continue reading...



Scientists draw a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
CBC News

On Friday, May 4, a UN-led panel of climate change scientists made their case for quick action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Continue reading...

Related articles:
UN report contradicts Environment Minister Baird on costs of Kyoto, opposition says

Read the joint science academies’ statement on sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection

News Alert for: hydrogen, wind, power

Swedish Delegation Visits DOE's National Renewable Energy Lab
NewsBlaze - Folsom,CA,USA
Prime Minister Reinfeldt toured research facilities and viewed demonstrations on solar energy, biofuels, wind power, and hybrid vehicles. ...
See all stories on this topic

Southern California Edison Proposes the Nation’s First Full-Scale ...
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
The advanced technologies in SCE’s proposed study, an approach the utility calls Clean Hydrogen Power Generation (CHPG), are being considered or tested in ...
See all stories on this topic

Team discovers 'throttle' for solar wind
PhysOrg.com - Evergreen,VA,USA
Instead, it has to be dragged along by the hydrogen: Solar wind hydrogen atoms exert a small electric field that drags the helium out along with it, ...
See all stories on this topic

Rio Tinto and BP join forces to develop clean energy worldwide
Moneyweb - Johannesburg,South Africa
The chief executive of Hydrogen Energy was today named as Lewis Gillies, formerly head of BP's hydrogen power business and its chief financial officer as ...
See all stories on this topic

Transmission bottleneck could stall green energy
North Coast Journal - Arcata,CA,USA
You've got DG Energy Solutions, which operates the Fairhaven biomass power plant on Samoa Peninsula, proposing to add wind turbines and ...
See all stories on this topic

Hydrogen Company Invests In German Solar Energy Sector
CarbonFree News - Cambridge,UK
Quantum also develops and manufacturers advanced lithium-ion batteries through its partner, Advanced Lithium Power. Quantum has product commercialization ...
See all stories on this topic

Natural Diversity and Global Warming: Learn and Chat!

Have you ever considered the importance of diversity in the natural world, or wondered how we can help preserve it as the Earth's temperature changes?

Mark your calendar for a free online chat. Tell us what natural diversity means in your life >>

When: 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific, 19:00 GMT-5), Tue., May 22
Where: Your home computer
How: Login details will be sent via email after you RSVP

On May 22, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and past Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), Sheila Watt-Cloutier will be sharing her wisdom on the connection between natural diversity and global climate change. And you're invited!

Meet new friends and discuss natural diversity with a number of experts. RSVP today >> http://go.care2.com/e/R0bC/IeD8/E.Jg

Watt-Cloutier has served as a spokesperson for a coalition of northern Indigenous Peoples, co-directed the youth awareness video Capturing Spirit: The Inuit Journey and is committed to persuading states to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

After the lecture, a panel of experts will answer questions from the audience - YOU! Panelists will include:

• Royal C. Gardner (Moderator): Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law.
• Wil Burns: Former Associate Professor in International Environmental Policy Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
• Annie Petsonk, J.D.: Environmental Defense's advocate for international environmental law and adjunct professor at George Washington University and University of Maryland law schools.

This is the third in a four-part series of online events celebrating the United Nations International Days. We look forward to chatting with you on May 22.

Truly,

Robyn E.
Care2 and
ThePetitionSite Team


P.S. Online broadcasts of the United Nations International Days event series are brought to us through the generous support of the Saint Petersburg Environmental Research Center.

Off-grid living, spotted owls, highway perks for hybrids, and more

Friday, May 18, 2007
News of Note Although no longer deemed vulnerable enough for ESA protection, gray wolves and grizzlies in parts of the Northern Rockies could benefit from a trust fund currently being conceived by officials as a means of sustaining the animals in tough times. More here. Today's News Americans Discover the Allure of Off-Grid Living A growing number of Americans are shunning power lines, choosing to live "off the grid," without commercial power -- and still enjoying their computers and large-screen televisions. Scientists Advise Capturing Spotted Owls A team of Pacific Northwest scientists has recommended capturing many or all of British Columbia's remaining northern spotted owls and breeding them at zoos throughout the region in an effort to prevent their extinction. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes Rules for Hybrids in Car Pool Lanes The government proposed new criteria Thursday for certifying vehicles as clean and energy efficient -- standards for states that let hybrid drivers travel without passengers in the special lanes to avoid rush-hour traffic. Study Shows Southern Ocean Saturated with Carbon Dioxide The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is so loaded with carbon dioxide that it can barely absorb any more, so more of the gas will stay in the atmosphere to warm up the planet, scientists reported Thursday. Mexican Baby Killer Whale in Tug of Love A newborn killer whale found bleeding on a Mexican beach has become the center of an international controversy over whether she should stay in Mexico or be sent to a U.S. marine theme park. Can Americans Get Charged on Electric Cars? While others hammer away at battery technology to make all-electric cars go further and cost less, ZAP (as in zero air pollution) believes it has the formula in its tiny Xebra cars made in China: Plug it in at home and go up to 40 miles per hour for up to 25 miles). >>>More articles at ENN.com Member Press Releases Hotel Planned for Big Bear Lake Rejected by Court : Wetlands, Endangered Plants at Issue By: the Center for Biological Diversity A San Bernardino Superior Court judge sided May 16th with a coalition of environmental organizations and struck down the approval of the Big Bear Lake Hilton Garden Inn, planned near the lakeshore in the city of Big Bear Lake. The Road to Recovery : 100 Success Stories for Endangered Species Day 2007 By: the Center for Biological Diversity For the second year in a row, the U.S. Senate declared an "Endangered Species Day" on May 18, 2007, to "encourage the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide." West Nile Virus Threatens Backyard Birds By: Wildlife Trust Scientists at the Consortium for Conservation Medicine (CCM), based at Wildlife Trust, New York, and the Smithsonian Institution's Migratory Bird Center report in an article appearing today in Nature that many species of birds, including backyard favorites such as tufted titmice and chickadees, are suffering serious declines from West Nile virus. Official Mexican Norm 029 on Shark and Ray Fishing is a Watershed for the Conservation of Marine Organisms By: International Fund for Animal Welfare When Official Mexican Norm (known as NOM in Spanish) 029 on shark and ray fishing goes into effect today, it will make it possible to regulate one of the fisheries with the greatest impact on endangered marine species such as sea turtles, whales and sea lions. The populations of many shark species are decreasing, making it imperative to regulate their capture in order to stop the depletion of these populations, according to the following environmentalist organizations: Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, COMARINO (Conservation of Marine Mammals of Mexico), Defenders of Wildlife México, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace México. Zoos Help Save Threatened Rainforest By: World Land Trust The Annual Conference and AGM of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) is the launchpad for a ground breaking partnership that will save some of the most endangered rainforest in the World. Lawsuit to Be Filed to Protect Montana Fluvial Arctic Grayling By: Center for Biological Diversity The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, Dr. Pat Munday and former Montana fishing guide George Wuerthner officially notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service May 15th that they will sue over an April 24, 2007 decision that the Montana fluvial arctic grayling no longer warrants protection as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Rather than concluding Montana grayling are recovered and secure, the agency instead decided that extinction of the Montana population, which is the last in the lower 48 states, is insignificant. Rehabilitated Manatee - A Success Story By: Wildlife Trust Wildlife Trust scientists and their colleagues in the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) are proud to announce that Mo, the much-loved manatee, having proven his ability to stay healthy and out of trouble, is no longer in need of monitoring. Wildlife Trust scientist, Lucy Keith removed Mo's tracking tags while he fed on a grassflat near the TECO power plant in Tampa Bay, thus ending a lengthy and enlightening relationship with the manatee that couldn't seem to find his way home. Earth Report 'Blast' Airing on BBC World May 19, 2007 By: the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development BBC World presents "Blast," an Earth Report documentary that chronicles the ongoing battle between blast fishers in the Philippines and the brave individuals risking their lives to stop them. Hawaiian Monk Seals Monitored for Infectious Diseases By: Wildlife Trust Dr. Alonso Aguirre, Vice President of Conservation Medicine at Wildlife Trust, and a team of researchers report in an article published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases that infectious diseases could pose a serious threat to the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world and their numbers have declined in recent years. In addition to the threat posed by starvation, predation by sharks, and net entanglement, monk seals may be affected by biotoxins and infectious diseases. Bush Touts Proposal for New Federal Alternative-Fuel Standards That Would Weaken Existing Law By: the Center for Biological Diversity In a Rose Garden appearance Monday, President Bush cynically portrayed his "20-in-10" alternative-fuel standard as improving current federal fuel-economy standards. In fact, the proposal is considerably weaker than current targets signed into law in 1992 by the first Bush president. Editor's Note : 'Network News' features press releases submitted directly by organizations in ENN's member network. This content is not specifically endorsed or supported by ENN and is not subject to ENN's editorial process.
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